[NEWS] Sale Of Israeli Drones To Russia Moves Forward

Haaretz reports:

Russia is expected to buy Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles, Russian media reported yesterday. This would be one of the few instances since the fall of the Soviet Union that Russia has acquired advanced military and technological equipment from Israel.[...]

Sources in Israel say the deal is expected to reach at least $10-20 million and will include ground stations, maintenance and instruction. Such a contract would include provisions that the UAVs are intended for the country that acquires them. This means that Russia will not be allowed to sell them to foreign countries, even if they are produced under license in a foreign factory. The sale of the UAVs still requires the authorization of the Israeli Defense Ministry. The U.S. administration's stance on the sale remains unclear, but U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has said on a number of occasions that he seeks to improve relations with Moscow.